BlockBefore

Westfield, Iowa

18 topographic sheets cover this place, the earliest surveyed in 1898 and the latest in 1986. It stands in Westfield Township. It lies in ZIP code area 51062. It stands on Westfield Creek. The Survey maps it on the Akron quadrangle. 123 people lived here at the 2020 count. It stands 1,132 feet above sea level.

Westfield within Plymouth County

Population over time

2 figures

Westfield fell from 132 to 123 between 2010 and 2020. These are the recorded population figures Wikidata holds for this place, reached through the Geographic Names Information System number this page is keyed on rather than by name, so they belong to this place and not to another of the same name. Most are census counts, but not all are: an early figure may be a founding or settlement estimate, and an estimate published within five years of a census is left out. The change column is computed, and is left blank where more than 20 years separate a figure from the one before it, because a gap that long is not a change between two counts.

YearPeople Change
2010132
2020123-9 (-7%)

Topographic sheets covering this place

8 surveys from 18 printed sheets

Matched by testing this settlement's coordinate against the published boundary of every sheet in the United States Geological Survey's historical collection. Each opens the scanned sheet at the Survey.

Fires near this place

11 since 1999

Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The federal wildfire occurrence database lists 11 fires within 5 miles of Westfield between 1999 and 2020, burning about 37 acres in total. None started naturally. None was recorded as arson. Distance is straight-line from the map coordinates, so a fire counted here may appear on a neighbouring settlement's page as well.

Reported cause Fires
Missing data/not specified/undetermined11

The most recent of them, most recent first, with the day each was reported and the service that recorded it.

DateCause SizeReported by Name on the report
16 July 2014Missing data/not specified/undetermined5.0 acresSouth Dakota Wildland Fire SuppressionCOREY HALVERSON #2
18 May 2014Missing data/not specified/undetermined1.5 acresSouth Dakota Wildland Fire SuppressionREILLY
30 April 2002Missing data/not specified/undetermined2.0 acresJefferson Volunteer Fire DepartmentBOSSE
23 April 2018Missing data/not specified/undetermined25 acresSouth Dakota Wildland Fire SuppressionSTAMP
22 April 2014Missing data/not specified/undeterminedunder an acreSouth Dakota Wildland Fire SuppressionGRASS FIRE TW2
22 April 2014Missing data/not specified/undeterminedunder an acreSouth Dakota Wildland Fire SuppressionGRASS FIRE
11 April 2014Missing data/not specified/undeterminedunder an acreSouth Dakota Wildland Fire SuppressionALPENA
4 March 2020Missing data/not specified/undeterminedunder an acreSouth Dakota Wildland Fire Suppression1A

Settlements close enough to share some of these fires:

Every fire recorded in Plymouth County

Mines and quarries near this place

10 of 23 shown

Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The federal mineral resources record lists 23 workings within 5 miles of Westfield: 14 past producers, 9 producers. 9 still produce. What was taken out: Sand and Gravel, Construction. Distance is straight-line from the map coordinates, so a quarry counted here may appear on a neighbouring settlement's page as well.

Where SiteCommodity StatusRecorded
Akron PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionProducer
Bailey Sand & Gravel PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionProducer
Bennett Sand & Gravel PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionProducer
Everist AkronSand and Gravel, ConstructionProducer
Higman Ag Lime QuarrySand and Gravel, ConstructionProducer
Higman Sand & Gravel PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionProducer
Hladky PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionProducer
Horton Sand & Gravel PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionProducer
Keith KnappSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
Laurel Sand and GravelSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer

Every working recorded in Plymouth County

Storms near this place

29 since 1996

Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The National Weather Service names Westfield in 29 storm reports between 1996 and 2024: 19 flood, 6 hail, 2 tornado, 2 thunderstorm wind. No death or injury is recorded in these reports. Each account below is quoted exactly as the forecast office filed it, from the NOAA Storm Events Database, and each date opens the federal record of that event.

WhenEvent Place namedHarm What the report says
July 1997Thunderstorm WindWestfield$50,000no account filed
October 2019FloodWestfield$5,000Rainfall around October 1, which averaged 1.00 to 1.50 inches around Sioux Falls and 2.00 to 3.50 inches in the Rock River Basin and around Hawarden and Akron, pushed the Big Sioux River near Richland (gage site BSRS2) into minor flood. The river crested 1.40 feet above flood stage on October 8. Significant flooding of agricultural land occurred, with a few county and township roads briefly inundated near the river. Property damage costs are rough estimates.
September 2019FloodWestfield$5,000After excessive two-day rainfall during September 10-12 (generally 3 to 4 inches around Sioux Falls, 4.72 inches at Canton, 2.51 inches at Hawarden), the Big Sioux River near Richland (gage site BSRS2) reached the 3rd highest stage on record of 6.51 feet above flood stage on September 17. Significant amounts of the agricultural flood plain were inundated, and numerous roads were closed including South Dakota Highway 50 and Iowa Highway 3.
June 2020Thunderstorm WindWestfield$1,000Winds brought down a 20 foot tall oak tree across a county highway. Property damage costs are rough estimates.
July 2024FloodWestfield-Flooding continued from June on the Big Sioux River near Richland, with declining river levels. The river fell below flood stage on the morning of July 7th.
June 2024FloodWestfield-The Big Sioux River near Richland rose above flood stage the afternoon of June 21st, cresting around 11.7 feet above flood stage (1128.7 feet) on June 23rd. This crest is in the Major Stage and broke the previous record. The river stayed above flood stage into July. For a more comprehensive description of flood damage, please see other entries for Plymouth County.
April 2023FloodWestfield-The Big Sioux River near Richland, SD rose above flood stage during the early morning of April 12th before cresting around 1.36 feet above flood stage (1118.36 feet) on April 15th. The river then fell below flood stage on the evening of April 16th.
August 2020HailWestfield-Hail was mostly dime to nickel size, but some stones were as large as quarters.
April 2020FloodWestfield-A continuation of minor flooding from March, the Big Sioux River near Richland (gage site BSRS2) began the month 1.67 feet above flood stage, with a steady and slow fall to below flood stage by April 5. Significant agricultutal lands near the river remained flooded.
March 2020FloodWestfield-With rainfall of 1.72 inches 6 miles north northeast of Elk Point, 1.58 inches at Rock Valley, 1.51 inches at Canton and 1.37 inches at Akron, the Big Sioux River near Richland (gage site BSRS2) rose above flood stage late month. The river crested at 1.62 feet above flood stage on March 31, resulting in significant flooding of agricultural land. The river remained at minor flood stage at the end of the month. Crop damage is an estimate from insured losses. Information provided by the United States Department of Agriculture.
June 2019FloodWestfield-The Big Sioux River near Richland (gage site BSRS2) crested 2.43 feet above flood stage on June 29, causing significant flooding of crop and pasture land. The river remained in minor flood stage at the end of the month.
May 2019FloodWestfield-This is a continuation of flooding from April. The Big Sioux River near Richland (gage site BSRS2) remained in flood through the month. Late month rains pushed the river to a crest at 5.21 feet above flood stage on May 30. Significant agricultural flooding persisted, with no opportunity for spring planting throughout the flood plain. A few farm levees were overtopped on the South Dakota side with flooding of several outbuildings. The river remained at major flood stage at the end of the month.
June 2019FloodWestfield-A continuation of flooding from May, the Big Sioux River near Richland (gage site BSRS2) began the month at 4.71 feet above flood stage. Significant amounts of agricultural land remained flooded, and further impeded spring planting.
March 2019FloodWestfield-Snow melt and heavy rainfall (measured 2.12 inches at Hawarden and 1.75 inches at Akron) resulted in extensive flooding of agricultural land in the flood plain. South Dakota Highway 50 and Iowa Highway 3 were both inundated by water for numerous days, with several farm buildings engulfed in flood waters. The Big Sioux River near Richland (gage site BSRS2) reached the second highest crest on record at 7.5 feet above flood stage on March 16. The river remained in moderate flood stage at the end of the month.
July 2019FloodWestfield-A continuation of flooding from June, the Big Sioux River near Richland (gage site BSRS2) crested 2.08 feet above flood stage on July 7 and 2.36 feet above flood stage on July 20, resulting in significant flooding of crop and pasture land.
April 2019FloodWestfield-Runoff from occasional precipitation in late March and April maintained significant flooding of agricultural and pasture lands near the Big Sioux River. The Big Sioux River near Richland (gage site BSRS2) crested at 3.77 feet above flood stage on April 10. Moderate flooding continued at the end of the month.
July 2018FloodWestfield-Crop and pasture land near the Big Sioux River was severely impacted as river levels climbed to 4.6 feet above flood stage near Richland (gage site BSRS2) on July 1.
September 2018FloodWestfield-Widespread upstream rainfall in the Big Sioux basin from September 18-20 totaled generally 5 to 10 inches, resulting in major flooding. A few farm buildings were flooded with widespread crop and pasture land flooding as the Big Sioux River near Richland (gage site BSRS2) crested 6.2 feet above flood stage on September 23. The river remained in minor flood stage at the end of the month.
October 2018FloodWestfield-River levels on the Big Sioux River near Richland (gage site BSRS2) continued to fall in early October. Impacts were limited to minor agricultural flooding.
June 2018FloodWestfield-A week of periodic heavy rainfall ending June 26 resulted in a widespread 5 to 9 inches of rainfall, much of which occurred on June 20, 24 and 25. Specific weekly totals included 7.47 inches at Canton, 9.15 inches at Rock Valley, 4.47 inches at Akron and 5.01 inches at Hawarden. Major flooding occurred with South Dakota Highway 50 as well as Iowa Highway 3 going under water. Significant amounts of crop and pasture land were inundated as the river crested near Richland (gage site BSRS2) 7.4 feet above flood stage on June 24. The river remained at major flood stage at months end.
October 2018FloodWestfield-A steady moderate rainfall during October 9-10 - resulting in 1.50 to 2.00 inches of rainfall - produced yet another period of moderate flooding. Significant amounts of agricultural land near the river were inundated. The Big Sioux River near Richland (gage site BSRS2) crested 3.1 feet above flood stage on October 14.
May 2018FloodWestfield-Runoff from periods of heavier rainfall on top of already high river levels produced minor flooding of lowland agricultural areas along lower portions of the Big Sioux River. River levels reached 1.0 feet above flood stage near Richland (gage site BSRS2) on May 14.
April 2017HailWestfield-Ground was white with hail completely covering it. Most hailstones were smaller, but there were some stones up to the size of quarters.
June 2000HailWestfield-Large hail covered the ground.
May 2016HailWestfield-no account filed
June 2006HailWestfield-no account filed
May 2003HailWestfield-no account filed
June 1998Tornado (F0)Westfield-no account filed
July 1996Tornado (F0)Westfield-no account filed

Every storm recorded in Plymouth County

Nearest settlements

The eight closest, with where each one stands in the county. Distances are straight-line, computed from the Geographic Names Information System coordinates.

Map PlaceDistance Sheets
Akron5.6 miles18
Millnerville7.4 miles9
Adaville10.7 miles9
Ruble11.0 miles9
Potosia13.9 miles9
Crathorne15.0 miles9
Brookdale (historical)15.3 miles12
Yeomans15.5 miles12

Elsewhere

Matched on this settlement's Geographic Names Information System number rather than its name, so it cannot be a different place of the same name in another state.

Wikipedia article on WestfieldAn encyclopaedic summary. Its text is share-alike, so it is linked here rather than copied.
Wikidata item Q2232974The structured record the population and elevation above come from. Public domain (CC0).

Provenance

This settlement is recorded in the Geographic Names Information System as feature 462935. The sheet list is computed by point-in-boundary test against the United States Geological Survey's historical topographic inventory. Both are works of the United States government and carry no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105.

Wildfire. Short, Karen C. 2022. Spatial wildfire occurrence data for the United States, 1992-2020 [FPA_FOD_20221014]. 6th Edition. Fort Collins, CO: Forest Service Research Data Archive. https://doi.org/10.2737/RDS-2013-0009.6 Collected with United States Government funding and usable without additional permissions or fees.

Mines and quarries. USGS Mineral Resources Data System (MRDS) https://mrdata.usgs.gov/mrds/ A work of the United States government, no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105.

Storms. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/stormevents/ A work of the United States government, no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105. Narratives are quoted verbatim from the National Weather Service report and are not edited or summarised.